Targeting the endocannabinoid system with microbial interventions to improve gut integrity

JackJansma^a, FleurBrinkman^a, Saskiavan Hemert^b, SaharEl Aidy^a

Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.

Abstract

The endocannabinoid system is a metabolic pathway involved in the communication between the gut microbiota and the host. In the gut, the endocannabinoid system regulates the integrity of the intestinal barrier. A compromised integrity of the intestinal barrier is associated with several disorders such as inflammatory bowel disorder, obesity and major depressive disorder. Decreasing the integrity of the intestinal barrier results in an increased translocation of bacterial metabolites, including lipopolysaccharides, across the epithelial layer of the gut, causing the subsequent inflammation. Targeting the endocannabinoid system in the gut can improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Currently, microbial interventions in the form of probiotics are under investigation for the treatment of diseases related to a compromised integrity of the intestinal barrier. However, the role of the endocannabinoid system in the gut is ambiguous since activity of the endocannabinoid system is increased in obesity and decreased in inflammatory bowel disease, emphasizing the need for development of personalized microbial interventions. This review discusses the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating the gut barrier integrity and highlights current efforts to develop new endocannabinoid-targeted microbial interventions.

Keywords: Endocannabinoid system, Probiotic, Microbiota, Intestinal barrier, Gut, Anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, Gut brain axis.